Screenplay Eight: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day (1992)
Danny Rubin
Click for screenplay.
PHIL: ...I'm telling you, I'm immortal... I've been run over, drowned, crushed, stabbed, shot, electrocuted, poisoned, frozen, burned, and asphyxiated - 
WAITER: The special today is blueberry waffles.
RITA: Why are you telling me this?
WAITER (shrugs): Because some people like blueberry waffles.

http://b-i.forbesimg.com/markrogowsky/files/2014/01/groundhog-day-driving.jpg

Many people are astounded that I've gotten this far in life without having seen Groundhog Day, given my penchant for films that play with narrative and offer potential insights into the human psyche. After seeing Being John Malkovich (a film praised for similar qualities) and finding it to be over-hyped and *cough-cough* mediocre at best, I've never felt the urge to watch Groundhog Day. Today, I cheated my way out of that film-buff requirement by reading the screenplay instead.

While I can't say that the screenplay inspired me to watch the film, I can say that it was better than I expected. This might possibly be due to expectations based on my incorrect assumption that Jim Carrey, not Bill Murray played the lead role. (I know that is an embarrassing admission, but you'll have to forgive me.) As I haven't liked any of Carrey's films, I was intrigued as I read the script and imagined him delivering the lines. Oops. Just know that I went through this entire screenplay with the understanding that Phil Connors was, in fact, Jim Carrey.

ANYWAY

Screenplay Seven: The Village

The Village (2004)
M. Night Shyamalan
Click for screenplay.
"I hope I am always able to risk everything for the right and just cause. If we did not make this decision, we could never again call ourselves innocent, and that, in the end, is what we have protected here - innocence. That, I am not ready to give up."





The Village has been next on my list for ages because almost everyone I know thinks it is mediocre at best (ha, ha). I disagree. After having read the screenplay, I still disagree. I'll analyze the crap out of it, but this is also going to be a defense of the story, so get your fightin' gloves on.

Screenplay Six: The Godfather

The Godfather (1972)
Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola
Click for screenplay.
"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."



I couldn't have continued this project without reading The Godfather. I've seen the movie once, years ago - and, as per usual, reading the screenplay made me want to see it again (if only for Al Freaking Pacino). This screenplay was listed in the top five screenplays ever from a variety of sources. I can see why, and while that fact intimidates me before I've even gotten into analyzing it, I'm a rebel and I ignore that intimidation and blunder on anyway!

Totally Unrelated to Screenplays/Story-Telling

(Originally posted on "It's All in the Script", 25 March 2014, 2:10 pm)



The title explains the post. Keep reading for a rant in favor of the #nomakeupselfie.

The Answer to Life, the Universe, Everything, and The Reason For This Blog

So... I figured that five screenplays into this project is when I should explain more as to why I'm doing it and what I'm discovering that I get out of it.

That, and I just had an epiphany.

Screenplay Five: The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense (1999)
M. Night Shyamalan
Click for screenplay.
"De profundis clamo ad te domine." ("Out of the depths I cry to you, lord." - Mass for the dead)

I can't believe that I feel like I have to do this, but

BEWARE: SPOILERS.

I imagine that by now, everyone on the planet is familiar with the twist in The Sixth Sense, but I am not holding back at all below the cut. So... be warned.

Screenplay Four: Annie Hall

Annie Hall (1977)

Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Click for screenplay.
"That movie makes me feel guilty."
"Yeah, 'cause it's supposed to."




Alright, so my last post covered the screenplay of a movie with which I am very familiar. It went alright, I suppose... but this time, I chose something new. I am not familiar with Woody Allen's body of work but I do know that he is a quirky little dude, so this is gonna be a wild adventure. Ready?